Classes, Forums & Lecture Series
Spring 2013: Reclaiming Evangelism
Does our vision statement call us to be evangelists? What does our Bible tell us about evangelism? What historical baggage have we inherited? How can we re-conceive evangelism in today’s progressive and pluralistic world?
This four-week Tuesday evening class led by seminarian Rhian Roberts on April 23, April 30, May 7, and May 14, 7–8:30 pm in the Common Room will cover the following topics:
Week 1: What does Matthew and Luke-Acts say about mission and conversion?
Week 2: What does Paul say about mission and conversion?
Week 3: Ugly mission history
Week 4: Potential & Hope–how evangelism can be re-visioned and relevant and non-oppressive
No signup is necessary. Enter in on Cedar Street (ring the doorbell) near the Chapel.
2013 Wednesdays in Lent: Were You There?
WERE YOU THERE? Our Lenten Series focuses on the Passion and Death of Jesus in word and image. Each week we will take a small piece of the Passion narrative-Peter’s Denial, The Disciples Praying in the Garden, Simon of Cyrene Helping to Carry the Cross, Jesus Giving his Mother and Beloved Disciple to Each Other, and Jesus’ Cry from the Cross- as our starting point for reflection. We will begin with a soup supper at 6:30pm, with the pro- gram starting at 7:15, and closing with Compline at 8:30pm. The program will run for the five Wednesday evenings of Lent starting February 20th through March 20th (There are still opportunities for volunteers to set up, cook soup, bring bread, and help clean up so please contact Carol Anne Brown for more information). This is a wonderful opportunity to share a meal, deepen your faith, and get to know others at All Souls. We warmly welcome everyone to join us for one, several, or all of these evenings.
YOUTH: On Wednesday evenings during Lent the youth at All Souls will gather after eating a simple soup supper together to enter more deeply into the Passion of Christ by preparing the Palm Sunday Passion Performance. We would like to invite all TNTers (Twenties & Thirties), Youth Formation Team members and CnC (Confirm not Conform) mentors who are interested to join is in preparing for and participating in this project.
Lent 2013: Catechumenate Class
You are invited to join the Catechumenate class facilitated by Betsy Dixon and Blair Rorabaugh this Lent and Eastertide. The class at All Souls is designed to give participants a safe, comfortable venue in which to consider more formal association with the Church through Baptism, Confirmation, Reception or Renewal of Baptismal Vows. Parishioners desiring a spiritual exercise during Lent without opting for one of the more traditional rites are also welcome. The eight-week course will begin on February 24. Classes will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Common Room at All Souls. The course will emphasize spiritual growth, and as tools we will use scripture, rites of the Book of Common Prayer, and other readings and activities. This class complements the “Intro to All Souls” class, in which Fr. Phil has discussed church history, the Anglican approach to scripture and authority, Episcopal polity, and the sacraments. Please contact Blair Rorabaugh or Betsy Dixon through the parish office .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you are interested or would like more information.
Intro to All Souls, Fall 2012
New to All Souls? Trying to figure out why people bow in worship or what a collect is or who Rowan Williams might be? Please join Fr. Phil Brochard on Sundays from 9:00-9:45 am in our Common Room for an introduction to life at All Souls Parish. Using our Sunday worship as a lens, we’ll explore everything from the Anglican Communion to what a zimbelstern is.
9/16 Corner of Cedar & Spruce
9/23 (class not meeting today - Retreat weekend)
9/30 The Gathering
10/7 The Word Spoken
10/14 We Believe?...
10/21 Bread & Wine
10/28 What We Do
Reel Theology: 2012 Summer Film Festival
The theme for this series is Lights, Camera… Faith! Each night’s presentation is stand-alone, so you need not attend every session. Gather (if possible bring some light snacks to share) to watch the movie, and have a brief discussion afterward. The Reel Theology offering will be designed to stimulate theological reflection and insights. All are invited!
June 22: Winter’s Bone (R, 110 minutes, USA, English)
An unflinching Ozark Mountain girl hacks through dangerous social terrain as she hunts down her drug-dealing father while trying to keep her family intact. She pushes on, fighting with forces far greater than herself until the truth, or enough of it, is revealed.
July 6: Romero (PG13, 1989, 105 minutes, USA, English)
This biopic tackles the life of Fr. Oscar Romero as he is appointed Archbishop on the assumption that he will uphold the status quo. But as he grows in his vocation and love of his neighbors, some return his love with hate and fear.
July 20: Son of Man (NR, 2006, 86 minutes, South Africa, Khosa and English with English subtitles)
This vivid, highly musical placement of the life of Jesus in 21st century Africa reminds us that his life and teaching were both contextual and universal, and enables us to see his life and teaching with new eyes.
August 3: Spitfire Grill (PG13, 1996, 117 minutes, USA, English)
Percy Talbott, upon being released from prison, goes to the small town of Gillead, to find a place where she can start over again. She is taken in by Hannah, to help out at her place, the Spitfire Grill, which is central to the life of this small community.
August 17: Big Night (R, 1996, 107 minutes, USA, English)
This tale of two Italian immigrant brothers trying to keep their restaurant afloat provides fertile ground for continued reflection on Jesus’ startling claim that he is the bread of life.
A Rule of Life for Contemporary People
Have you ever wondered why there isn’t enough time in the day to do everything that you want to do? Do you feel like you spend most of your time focused on things that are not important to you or on things that get in the way? Since the earliest days of Christianity there has been a practice of developing a rule to guide daily life for individuals and communities. The most famous of these is the Rule of St. Benedict but countless others have been used depending on whether a person was single, married, vowed, etc. This Easter we will be looking at how to create our own rule of life while hearing from members of our parish who have experience developing their own. Join us on Sundays, 12-1 pm, in the Chapel for the following topics:
April 22: Life as Religion
April 29: Intentional Community in the Parish House
May 6: A Common Life: Co-housing
May 13: Living by a Family Rule of Life
download the pdf Lent_at_All_Souls_2011.pdf
Moments That Make Us Anglican, 2011
Through the guidance of scholars, theologians and our own bishop we will be exploring our roots as Anglicans and how our past informs our present practice and beliefs. Using the lenses of Scripture, Liturgy, Church & State Relations, Mission and the Episcopacy, over the course of 5 weeks, beginning Wednesday, March 16, we will discover how our common story has shaped our understanding of everything from the embrace of evolution to the nature of “Christian” government, from our Eucharistic orientation to the global implications of local belief. Our simple soup supper will begin in the Parish Hall at 6:30 pm, finishing with Compline by 8:30 pm.
March 16: Interpretation of Scripture ~ Dr. Dan Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, Associate Professor of Church History, Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP)
How has our communal understanding of the interpretation of scripture been formed over time and what impact has that had on our tradition?
March 23: Episcopacy ~ The Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California
Why are bishops so important for Anglicans? Why are we an Episcopal Church?
March 30: Anglican Mission ~ Dr. Marion Grau, Associate Professor of Theology, CDSP
Mission in the Anglican church has had powerful and sometimes devastating on the world. Given our past and our present understanding, how do we authentically and respectfully share the Good News as we have come to know it?
April 6: Church/State Relations ~ Dr. Bob Bellah,
Professor Emeritus, Univ. of California, author of Habits of the Heart
What relationship has the Anglican and Episcopal Churches shared with England and the United States, respectively? How have these relationships shaped our corporate belief and practice?
April 13: Liturgy in the Anglican Tradition ~ The Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers, Hodges-Haynes Professor of Liturgics, CDSP
Our liturgies have roots that extend back for centuries. How did this come to be? What difference does this make for us, and how might this help us respond to the needs of followers of Christ today?
Nimble Believing, 2011
Join us for two remarkable evenings as the Rev. Dr. Roger Ferlo, a former professor of English Literature at Yale University, former Rector of St. Luke in the Fields, New York and currently the Director of the Institute for Christian Formation and Leadership at Virginia Theological Seminary will speak on the topic of “Nimble Believing.” Professor Ferlo, the author of both Opening the Bible and Sensing God, will be preaching on Sunday, March 20th at 8 am and 10 am and teaching Sunday March 20th and Monday, March 21st, both from 7-8:30 pm in our Parish Hall.
In Professor Ferlo’s words we will, “explore the implications of Dickinson’s insight of ‘telling it slant’ (which keeps Believing nimble) in the work of four English-speaking poets: George Herbert, Emily Dickinson, W.H. Auden and Rowan Williams. As these writers respond to God’s presence or absence in their lives, their sometimes-troubled eloquence in the face of mystery may help shape (or restore) our own practices of prayer. No prior knowledge of poetry required-just bring an open mind, an open heart, and a ready ear.”
The Nicene Creed, 2010
We (have/do/will) Believe
Nearly 17 centuries ago, Emperor Constantine, tired of the battles between Christians over the nature of Christ and the belief of the Church, convened a council of bishops and others to “settle” the issue. From the Council of Nicea in 325, and ecumenical councils that followed, has come what we commonly know as the “Nicene Creed”––a statement of belief said by millions of Christians from many traditions every week. In November three members of All Souls Parish, who are also professors at CDSP and PSR, will help us explore the history, theology and liturgical impacts of this ancient text. Please join us in the Nave to uncover the heresies dead and alive that this creed encounters, our own belief that this creed engenders and the purpose for this historical document in the 21st century.
Three Sundays in November:
11/7: A Beginning: The Councils and a belief in God
Dr. Dan Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, Professor of Church History, Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley.
11/14: And a Spirit Makes Three: A belief in the Holy Spirit
The Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers, Hodges-Haynes Professor of Liturgics, Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley.
11/21: Human/Divine? A belief in Jesus the Christ
The Rev. Dr. Horace Griffin, Professor of Field Education and Leadership Development, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley.